The highlight of Week 21 on the Junior Tour was undoubtedly the Category 1 Dr. Oetker Trophy in Romania, long established as a favourite port of call for many Tour players and featuring live online streaming of matches in the final stages of the event.
There was also plenty of other action around the continent. For a full listing of results click here. Read on for a round-up from this week’s Category 1 and Category 2 tournaments...
Category 1
14&U | DR OETKER JUNIOR TROPHY (Bucharest, ROU) | Gallery
Julia Stusek’s amazing run of form continues. The German (pictured) has proved once again why she is currently in fourth place in the Race to Monte-Carlo, capturing a fifth title from as many finals this year. Meanwhile one of last week’s biggest Race ranking movers, Mees Rottgering, will climb again from #19 on Tuesday. The Dutch player has won his second title - and first Category 1 event - of the season.
Stusek kept a clean sheet throughout the tournament, making her way to the girls’ final without too many problems. In the title decider she faced local favourite, Eva Maria Ionescu, who had scored an impressive semi-final win over top seed Amelie Justine Hejtmanek (GER). Ionescu had been seeking her second singles title of the year and a first on home soil, but it was not to be as Stusek was too strong, taking the final and the title 6-4 6-3.
In stark contrast, unseeded Rottgering scored gritty wins all through the event. His first two encounters were characterized by second set losses and a fighting spirit which saw him overcome his opponents in three sets, including a 7-5 third set win over fourth seed Gabriel Ghetu (ROU). The script in the final went the same way, with his win over top seed Timofei Derepasko (RUS) featuring another fightback after a second set slump. The Russian, seventh in the Race and gunning for his first Category 1 title of 2021, could not deny the Dutch boy, as Rottgering’s mettle saw him bounce back to take the match and the title 6-3 3-6 6-1.
Boys’ doubles champions: Timofei Derepasko (RUS) & Egor Pleshivtsev (RUS)
Girls’ doubles champions: Nastasija Nesterovic (GER) & Julia Stusek (GER)
Category 2
16&U | ESTONIAN JUNIOR OPEN (Tallinn, EST)
Playing in her third singles final of 2021, Laima Vladson (LTU) grabbed her second title of the year after a 5-7 6-2 6-4 win over Beatrise Zeltina (LAT) in the girls’ singles final. Gustavs Dambins (LAT) won his first title of the year, beating Siauliai champion Felix Alopaeus (FIN) 6-4 6-1 in the boys’ final.
Boys’ doubles champions: Denia Maijorov (EST) & Daniels Tens (LAT)
Girls’ doubles champions: Brit Martin (EST) & Laura Rahnel (EST)
14&U | ADANA TENNIS CUP (Adana, TUR)
After winning the doubles title last week in Slovenia, Sarah Melany Fajmonova has backed up her performance with not just one, but two trophies this week. As well as another doubles win, she was victorious in the singles final, beating Ada Kumru (TUR) 6-4 6-1 for her maiden Singles title. In the boys’ singles final, Russian Maxim Vlasov earned his first title of the year with a 6-1 6-2 win over Mustafa Kaan Kose (TUR).
Boys’ doubles champions: Haydar Cem Gokpinar (TUR) & Kerem Yilmaz (TUR)
Girls’ doubles champions: Alina Botasheva (RUS) & Sarah Melany Fajmonova (CZE)
14&U | VARITEX LODZ CUP 2021 (Lodz, POL)
It was a case of third time lucky for the Swedish player Ludwig Hede, having recently finished as runner-up on two occasions; in week 18 (Bytom Cup) and week 19 (Bergantov Memorial). However, there was to be no stopping him this week in Poland as he finally claimed his first title of the year with a decisive 6-1 6-0 win over Mateusz Miton (POL) in the boys’ singles final. Eliska Forejtkova (CZE) won her second singles title of 2021 with a win in the final by virtue of a walkover, as Alisa Oktiabreva (RUS) was unable to play.
Boys’ doubles champions: William Rejchtman Vinciguerra (SWE) & Alan Wazny (POL)
Girls’ doubles champions: Oliwia Kuszel (POL) & Maja Pawelska (POL)